Richard Baxter once said, “It is almost incredible how much ground the devil takes when he has once made sin a matter of controversy: some are of one mind, and some of another; you are of one opinion and I am of another.” Nowhere is this more apparent than when we discuss the use of …
With Whoops and Happy Yells
A few folks brought my attention to this, and I thought it would be good if I offered a brief response. I had answered a question about Eastern Orthodoxy for a CanonWIRED clip, and this was posted by a gent named Nicodemus as a response to that short video. First, I appreciate that the response …
Ecumenical Polemics
This morning Trinity Reformed Church and Christ Church held a joint service, which we do every year on Reformation Sunday. Peter Leithart preached from Galatians 2 and 3, on Trinitarian justification, and while he was preaching, several of the premises he laid out on the way to his conclusion had an additional benefit of helping …
A Case of Boxed Fruit on Your Doorstep
R.C. Sproul has written a few words to explain why he did not sign the Manhattan Declaration, and you may find those words here. On the other end of the spectrum, Al Mohler has explained in this place why he did sign it. I am with Sproul when it comes to his statement that he …
Calvin’s Fundamentalism
American fundamentalism made a series of strategic mistakes in its battles with liberalism in the early twentieth century. In the first rank of these mistakes was the retreat from a full-orbed world and life view, where everything is understood to be under the authority of Jesus Christ. They held to the fundamentals of the faith, …
Let’s Go Kiss Us Some Icons
I recall one time, back in the day, when I was having a discussion with my dear wife about what I was going to wear for preaching attire. This was back in the Jesus people period. At issue was whether or not I was going to wear jeans with or without the patches. Not surprisingly, …
Reformed Catholicity
Our sister church here in Moscow (Trinity Reformed Church) adopted a superb statement on Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Reformed Catholicity. You can read it here.
Saluting the Uniform
Tim Enloe and I are continuing our conversation. Not much of an exciting conversation, because I agree with what he has posted here. But he does raise a question worth considering. “Pastor Wilson has said in his earlier post that the solution to abusive lay discussions is not a simple gag order. I agree, and …
Our Educated Fog-Mongers
A week or so ago, I posted something on laymen and Scripture here. I invited Tim Enloe to respond, which he has now done here. To this, let me add just a few additional comments. I agree with the drift of Tim’s comments, and share his loathing of egalitarianism. And I agree that the fact …
Laymen and Scripture
An interesting thread broke out after a recent post I made about N.T. Wright and the need to bring genuine discipline to academic debate. The thread (to use shorthand) revolved around private judgment, the priesthood of believers, sola Scriptura, and the ministerium of the Church. How’s that for a summary? I thought I would add …